The power in the shot of the Brazilian Militao, which broke the equality of a game that got stuck for Real Madrid against Osasuna, supports Zinedine Zidane’s team in the pulse for the League, after a worked 2-0 win that Casemiro closed before facing the European ‘final’ against Chelsea.
Salvador Militao. On his fourth try. Contributing more shot than a forward that went without a goal the day that Zidane gathered four attackers. After two saving saves by Sergio Herrera, fourteen minutes from the end, the Brazilian central defender put light on a Real Madrid that was darkening. With rotations and rest for Kroos and Modric. Pulling from the quarry and with a decisive role from Rodrygo.
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The feeling of freedom that Osasuna possesses, due to the merits of his second round of the championship, prompted him to present a brave approach. One of those that go like a glove for a Real Madrid that enjoys transition. Zidane’s rotations increased the offensive presence with four forwards in eleven. The irruption of a tuned Eden Hazard.
Zidane points out that the improvement of his team to reach the titles must start from the ball. Satisfied with the defensive performance, demand finesse in the last meters. And he found it in the first act with a group of players who did not think about the battle that awaits in London to reach the final of ‘Champions’. Only the inspiration of Sergio Herrera in the goal delayed the victory.
Hazard’s wounded pride marked the start of the match. Headline three months later, he enjoyed its freshness appearing between the lines. Vertical, he sought the goal from his first appearance. The quality connection with Benzema put Herrera’s firmness to the test, who was waiting for a night in which he would earn his salary.
Osasuna’s lack of complexes boosted his judgment, finding in the return of a warrior, Chimy Ávila, his best offensive trick to avoid a single encounter against Real Madrid in their fight for the title. He warned Courtois with a centered shot and put the scare in the body with his iron auction to the net, in a goal disallowed for offside on the brink of halftime.
Zidane’s team sustained itself with a double pivot for the future. Casemiro released by the company of a youth squad with a lot of personality like Antonio Blanco. From them a vertical game started. With Asensio leaving vision of pass between the lines, Hazard breaking them while driving, Benzema associating with everyone and Vinicius out of tune, without finding room for his speed and erratic in the auction.
The Madrid offensive presence linked occasions, always finishing the play. Casemiro was closer to the goal shooting from the center of the field than from the front, Asensio tried it with a thread and Herrera’s exhibition began with Militao auctions. The Brazilian put the scare in the body of his team with a poisoned transfer that saved Courtois on the line and took it out in the rival area.
He built a wall Herrera, who flew to take the shot with a boat on Hazard’s lawn and two powerful heads from Militao. It was clear to Real Madrid that they would have to work on the victory. Osasuna was fortifying in defense as he retreated meters in the second act, gathered lines and bet already on the counterattack as a weapon. Thus he avoided waves of rival occasions and found his with Moncayola with a dry shot to Courtois after running in superiority.
It was the only one because it focused on defending and short-circuiting the game of a Real Madrid that lost finesse. Without spaces, success came to depend on individual action. Militao was the most insistent looking for the goal. She stroked him with a lovely volley before the white jam. Zidane turned to Rodrygo and the League was played with Blanco and Miguel Gutiérrez on the field. The Brazilian responded wonderfully.
His input was key. He brought impudence and imbalance. It changed the dynamics of a game that was once again on the way to a goalless draw, as happened against Getafe and Betis in missed opportunities to attack the leadership. But it could not be another savior. Militao earned it hard. This time to a corner from Isco and with an unattainable header for Herrera at 76 minutes.
In four minutes, Real Madrid closed the game. Casemiro, getting in the middle of a pass from Benzema to Odriozola, changed the direction of the ball and marked the sentence. Zidane’s men did not choose a tournament, they remain firm for the league title and face the great challenge of the ‘Champions’.
Data sheet
2 – Real Madrid: Courtois; Odriozola, Militao, Varane (Nacho, m.46), Marcelo (Miguel Gutiérrez, m.64); Casemiro, Antonio Blanco, Marco Asensio (Arribas, m.83); Hazard, Vinicius (Rodrygo, m.64) and Benzema.
0 – Osasuna: Sergio Herrera; Nacho Vidal, Aridane, David García, Manu Sánchez; Roberto Torres (Kike Barja, m.81), Lucas Torró (Jony, m.84), Moncayola, Javi Martínez (Brasanac, m.64); Rubén García (Adrián, m.81) and Chimy Ávila (Budimir, m.64).
Goals: 1-0, m.76: Militao. 2-0, m.80: Casemiro.
Referee: Cuadra Fernández (Balearic school). He admonished Javi Martínez (54) and Oier Sansurjo (54), from Osasuna.
Incidents: Match corresponding to the thirty-fourth day of LaLiga Santander played at the Alfredo Di Stéfano stadium behind closed doors.